Cesar Gracie makes formal offer to unite with Team Penn

Following Nick Diaz‘s three round thrashing of B.J. Penn (Penn won round 1) at UFC 137 last Saturday, Diaz’s coach, Cesar Gracie, has made a formal offer with Team Penn to unite camps.

“I was reminded by something that happened many, many years ago. I think BJ was probably about 17 at the time, we were at a tournament and I was giving one of my guy’s instructions. At the time there was an alliance, it was my school and Ralph’s school and we were one team and BJ was on that team.

I was giving one of my guys instructions and I looked over to my left a little bit and I saw BJ’s eyes focused on every word I was saying and he kind of smiled and said, ‘You always have the best advice, that’s why I always listen to you.’

And it just reminded me, years and years have passed since then, but BJ, take my advice now, it’s time to make something new happen.”

Gracie called the Penn camp on Wednesday to make the offer. He feels both camps would benefit one another and he nor the Diaz brothers want to see Penn retire. But they also do not think Penn is getting everything he needs where he is and doing what he is currently doing.

You can read Gracie’s complete statement on BJPenn.com and/or listen to the audio of Gracie below:

Can you imagine if Team Cesar Gracie and Team Penn combined? With Reagan Penn coming up and Gilbert Melendez, Shields, Nate and Nick — they could become the biggest team in MMA. I love this idea and hope Penn does it.

Gracie makes valid comments…only problem is..if Penn isn’t willing to make those changes…it doesn’t matter…I just can’t figure out how somewhere like Penn would have a cardio problem…like…he just hits a wall in fights…lol.